This morning I woke up like a boss at six fifteen in the morning. I could not believe it! There was a mixture of pride, happiness, and badassery! I must confess that I said, “Booya,” as I got dressed and ready for yoga. After getting dressed for the day and getting the coffee started I was reminded that although I may have felt proud of myself; the day was all its own and I was just a little boat on the wide ocean.

The Incident

Murdoch my big, gorgeous, attitude filled cat proceeded to greet the day by playing in his water dish. We stared at each other in a stalemate. I calmly cleaned up the water and told him next time he would be cleaning it. I did my wake up rounds then I heard a sound…

**Splish Splash Ting** **Splish Splash Ting**
**Splish Splash Ting**

I hollered down the hallway… “Murdoch! That better not be you!”

I walked down the hallway with suspenseful music playing…

I see that funny little orange face and he has a paw frozen above the water dish. I point and said, “Put that paw down right now.” He proceeds (in fabulous Murdoch fashion) to just whip his paw into the water while keeping eye contact. I go skidding down the hallway (as I do this he is happily slapping around in the water like a toddler) and slide in my socks to grab the oven towel; then I chase him out of the kitchen and clean up the mess.

“As anyone who has ever been around a cat for any length of time well knows, cats have enormous patience with the limitations of the humankind.”

– Cleveland Amory

I am thinking at this point that this is definitely a life reminder. I cannot control my fluffy Friday menace or how grouchy my kids are this morning. But I CAN control my own fabulous ass, my attitude, and where or not I start my day with a dateline podcast episode or some tunes. I was chuckling thinking just how powerful I am; like my character conjuring in “Harry Potter Legacy”; how it is entirely up to me. I can choose to take the garbage out of my office today, or I can choose to allow teenage attitude to derail my kick ass day later, or I can choose to build my own momentum by going to bed early again, etc,. There are so many things that I CAN do! Feel the oozes of gumption, oomph, and awesome sauce! Booya!

As I was having this awesome epiphany of self-greatness…

**Splish Splash Ting** **Splish Splash Ting**
**Splish Splash Ting**

I turn around and I swear that damn fabulous cat is smirking at me. We lock eyes. I just say his name. “Murdoch?” He meows as if you say, “yes?” In a split second I am across the kitchen and promptly step in a puddle of water. He proceeds to run down the hallways with his fluffy tale blowing in the breeze. I clean up the water for the third time. And refill it since at this point there is a whole lot missing. With no Murdoch in sight and children showing signs of finally getting ready I took this as an opportunity to go change my wet socks.

For the second time that morning I said, “Booya: as I found my hand on my second favourite pair of polka dot socks. I was just starting up the steps when I heard it…

**Splish Splash Ting** **Splish Splash Ting**
**Splish Splash Ting**

I start running up the stairs, paws are running down the hallway, and I hear one of my daughters happily sing his name. I skid across the kitchen grabbing the towel and hollering out, “Murdoch! I know it was you!” After I cleaned up, got to have some of my coffee, and saw the kids off to school I was thinking out loud to myself that I was in face pretty damn awesome. The house was quiet and I look up and see Murdoch.

Our eyes meet and we just have a quiet moment of acknowledgement. Finally it all clicks. I woke up early (finally getting that tick on my goal) because I stuck to my guns and went to bed on time. I was in a good mood because of me! I cleaned up four water puddles, skidded down the hallway and the kitchen, and realized this was the lesson to get today. I can accomplish progress on a goal, and prove I am able to rise to the challenges that arise. If ever I doubt it… all I need is to remember today.

“Way down deep, we’re all motivated by the same urges. Cats have the courage to live by them.“

– Jim Davis

As my day continues I will chuckle thinking of this mornings escapades. I will remember that although I was tackled by water dishes, fabulous cat attitude, grouchy kids, and cold breezes… I rose above and rocked all of my polka dots.

I am proud of today.

I am proud of me.

And I hope you are of you.